2000 Trees Festival 2025
at Upcote Farm in Cheltenham, UK
photos and words by Claire Hodgkins

This year’s 2000 Trees was a scorcher - and we’re not just talking about the weather! Attendees gathered in the thousands and descended on the stomping grounds of non-other than Cheltenham’s Upcote Farm for the latest instalment of the much loved festival.

In recent years, the festival has opened its gates early to squeeze in an additional day of action where returning icons obliterate the Forest stage, and fresh up-and-coming talent grace the intimate Word tent. This year’s pre-show festivities saw the return of Manchester based rockers Hot Milk, who headlined the Axiom stage just one year prior and festival favourites Kid Kapichi - playing two final sets across the weekend in their current format before the departure of founding members. Other appearances were had by Blank Atlas following their 2000 Trees debut in. 2024 as well as Unpeople and Blood Command who both cooked up a storm at the Forest stage.

As always, bright and early on Thursday morning saw the real start of the festival. Party goers from the night before emerged out their tents, whilst general admission weekend and day ticket holders flooded through the gates and onto the farm - ready for action. This year’s attendees were spoilt for choice with the likes of Karen Dió and emerging talent, PAVÉ opening the weekend. Lake Malice earned themselves one of the most talked about sets of the weekend, playing to a packed-out tent in thirty degree heat. Vocalist Alice Guala belted out tracks ‘Blossom’ and ‘Mitsuko’, and was met with a sea of fans echoing the lyrics back to the band. A real testament to their growth since their Trees debut back in 2023. Back for another taste were everyone’s favourite punk rockers, SNAYX who finally got to stomp around the festival’s coveted main stage. Co-headliners, PVRIS and Kneecap both made their 2000 Trees debut and shone during their worthy respective sets.

Destined for great things, Jools commanded the main stage with flair and integrity. Their thirty minute offering left attendees feeling both empowered and fuelled for the day ahead. After a brief touring and live hiatus, Trash Boat returned to the festival’s main stage as if they were never away. The Friday of the festival was one for the girls, as several iconic took place over at the Forest stage. Imogen and the Knife and Julia Wolf played to mammoth crowds and with the weather on our side - made for the most wholesome listening experience. Also playing the Forest stage was Tonight Alive vocalist Jenna McDougall bringing her solo project Hevenshe across the globe for the first time. With familiar faces plastered across the barricade, it couldn’t have been a better first show away from home soil and the set coinciding with sunset made the Forest feel just that bit more special. You wouldn’t find a band more deserving of a headline slot than Heriot, and thankfully they had the honour of headlining the very stage they first played back in 2022. After years of grafting, Heriot are rightfully receiving their flowers and delivered a spine-tingling performance to close out the Cave stage on Friday evening.

Bringing the festival to a close, Saturday’s offering was electric. Love Rarely and Split Chain both delivered hard-hitting sets and played to humungous crowds. Sadly, not every set can go according to plan as Love Is Noise discovered when they took to the festival’s Cave stage. Suffering unfortunate technical difficulties is never on anyone’s festival bucket list but despite that, the band gave it their all and won over the tent with their determination and positive attitude, as well as talent - of course. After years of grafting, festival favourites VUKOVI were finally let loose on the Main stage and unleashed bursts of unfiltered Scottish chaos - and we wouldn’t have it any other way. Duo Janine Shilstone and Hamish Reilly more than proved that they’re a force to be reckoned with and their scorcher of a set is sure to go down in 2000 Trees history. Rounding the weekend off in style, Alexisonfire decimated what remained of the Main stage, whilst over at the Forest stage RØRY provided heavy riffs and a shoulder to cry on in the best therapeutic way the alternative scene has ever witnessed.

Once again, 2000 Trees Festival has knocked it out of the park. From their small community feel, to diversity amongst the bill - the festival truly gets it like no other. The only criticism of the festival is having to wait so long to do it all over again, but every time - it’s always worth the wait.